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This file contains:
From Dick Moore to Dick Howard RE: Jessel and attachment (which is not in file). 1 pg. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 4/20/1972
From Charles W. Colson to "The File" RE: Random Thoughts from Lou Harris (of campaign). 4 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/3/1972
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26146899
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WHSF: Contested, 52-4
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26146899
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document
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WHSF: Contested, 52-4
description
This file contains:
From Dick Moore to Dick Howard RE: Jessel and attachment (which is not in file). 1 pg. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 4/20/1972
From Charles W. Colson to "The File" RE: Random Thoughts from Lou Harris (of campaign). 4 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/3/1972
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
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26146899
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
52
4
4/20/1972
White House Staff
Memo
From Dick Moore to Dick Howard RE:
Jessel and attachment (which is not in file).
1pg.
52
4
4/3/1972
Campaign
Memo
From Charles W. Colson to "The File" RE:
Random Thoughts from Lou Harris (of
campaign). 4pgs.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Page 1 of 1
DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD [NIXON PROJECT]
DOCUMENT
DOCUMENT
NUMBER
TYPE
SUBJECT/TITLE OR CORRESPONDENTS
DATE
RESTRICTION
NI
Memo
From moore to Colson
10/5/72
c(Nixon)
[Doc 63]
Re: mc Govern and the media
N2
Memo
From Moore to Howard
4/20/72
11
[Doc64]
Re: Jessel
N3
Memo
From Colson to "THE FILE"
4/3/72
11
[Doc65]
Re: Random Thoughts from
Lou Harris
N4
Memo
From Colon to Moore and
2/15/72
11
[Doc 66]
Safire Re: Wage /Price Controls
FILE GROUP TITLE
BOX NUMBER
SPECIAL STAFF FILES
95
FOLDER TITLE
[RICHARD MOORE] CHARLE S COLSON 1972
RESTRICTION CODES
A. Release would violate a Federal statute or Agency Policy.
E. Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
B. National security classified information.
financial information.
C. Pending or approved claim that release would violate an individual's
F. Release would disclose investigatory information compiled for law
rights.
enforcement purposes.
D. Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy
G. Withdrawn and return private and personal material.
or a libel of a living person.
H. Withdrawn and returned non-historical material.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
NA FORM 1421 (4-85)
Presidential Materials Review Board
Review on Contested Documents
Collection:
Special Staff Files
Box Number:
5
Folder:
[Richard Moore] Charles Colson 1972
Document
Disposition
63
Retain
Open
64
Return
Private/Political
65
Return
Private/Political
66
Retain
Open
April 20, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR DICK HOWARD
FROM:
DICK MOORE
Re the attached, the President does know Jessel and
usually replies personally. However, he did so as
recently as March 8, and I think Georgie is being
a little pushy.
I am attaching a draft reply, but I really think
this is something that should be decided by Rose
Woods. I suggest you send it to her, and if she
agrees, perhaps she can arrange to have it procedded
and signed by whomever she thinks is appropriate.
My draft makes no reference to the proposed gift,
since I do not know whether the President would wish
to accept it or not. Again, Rose would know.
Attachment
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 3, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILE
SUBJECT: Random Thoughts from Lou Harris
Harris believes that the President needs, between now
and the election, to continually create "straw men". Meany
affords us the best opportunity, but we've got to work at creating
others -- deliberate enemies. The President is against those who
plunged us into Vietnam but now want to sell out America's honor.
The President is against those retailers who over-charge consumers.
The middle man example in the food price issue is a perfect illustra-
tion. If there isn't a natural villain, create one so that the President
can be the defender of the public interest against natural enemies.
Harris believes that the President should be forceful but not
strident; that whenever he is strident, the President brings out the
hostility of a latent anti-Nixon feeling which still exists with a large
body of people, but that when he is deliberate, quiet, rational, forceful,
he does not engender this latent hostility.
2.
Harris believes that we should downplay the campaign through-
out the year, make it as boring as possible. Harris believes that a
bland campaign will help us in that we will benefit greatly from a low
turnout. Also, people react better to the President if he does not
polarize on gut issues. This does not mean that we should not address
the issues; we should defuse as many as possible, but not arouse the
passions of the electorate with a very divisive issue that might bring
out our opponents (as with anti-labor legislation, for example).
Harris believes the key to our success is in avoiding having the
American electorate act emotionally or precipitously with respect to the
President's candidacy. He points out that as his pollsters question people,
they get a better response after the questioning than at the outset. More
people favor the President's re-election after they have been walked
through the issues than when they are first confronted with the question
cold, "Do you favor the President as against Candidate X?"
One of the President's strong points is that people think he is
trying hard. He is beginning to develop a characteristic of sincerity,
that he is really working at solving the problems. Harris advises that
we should articulate everything we do rationally, calmly, quietly, and
forcefully. Make people think, make people thoughtful. Do not provoke
instant emotional reactions. The President's style has come through very
3.
well as being deliberate. We should not let him go swinging or
overreacting. If our opponent becomes strident, we should take it
in stride. The more irresponsible the opposition becomes, the
more the President is helped in being looked at as a solid, steady,
strong and deliberate statesman. Be the "solid brick in the middle"
Harris suggests. Ask people to think of the issues seriously.
In this same vein, we should turn the lack of so-called charisma
into an asset, arguing that no one has the right to use the office of
Presidency for the development of a personality cult, that personal
promotion is not the measure of one's success as President. One
cannot run the country through charm, rather through ability. Nixon's
style is to be serious and dedicated, that that is more important than
personal image.
Harris believes that Nixon's image is now being sharpened
as a rational, thoughtful, deliberate leader, all of which can be
destroyed if there is a spontaneous reaction or a sharp galvanizing of
the opposition in the months ahead. Harris believes that if people
are asked calmly and quietly to think through the choice for President,
that the President cannot be beaten by any of the present Democratic
Presidential candidates. If on the other hand, the election turns into
4.
a heated, highly controversial, emotionally charged campaign,
we will simply bring out enough anti votes to defeat us; there are just
more of them than us and if we galvanize them, we (not the Democratic
candidates) can beat ourselves. The key at the moment is to maintain
the tone that we have presently achieved and to hold it throughout the
election year.
WR
Charles W. Colson